Athens traffic stop prompts chase, drug bust

Friday

Jan 24, 2014 at 6:01 PM

An Athens man was arrested on drug and numerous other charges early Friday morning after he tried to elude officers who conducted a traffic stop because he was driving a car with just one working headlight, Athens-Clarke County police said.

After his car was stopped on Danielsville Road at about 1 a.m., 35-year-old Ricardo Lorenzo Anderson showed an officer a replacement headlight bulb he planned to install, police said. The officer told Anderson he was glad he had taken steps to fix the headlight, but he needed to see a driver's license.

After Anderson admitted that his license had been suspended he asked if he was going to jail, and the officer responded that it was illegal to drive without a license, according to police.

The man then sped off.

Another officer who saw what was happening joined in a chase that went through a red light and at least one stop sign on some side streets where Anderson allegedly drove at more than 70 mph, according to police.

When Anderson abruptly stopped his car on Sayemore Drive and ran, a bag fell onto the street, police said. Police said the bag contained cocaine, marijuana, a scale and packaging material.

Anderson was apprehended after a foot chase. He was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drugs near school property and numerous moving violations.

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